Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

It’s time to come together, have some fun and reminisce at the annual Tri-City Grand Reunion beginning Friday and continuing with events through Sunday in the Cumberland, Benham and Lynch areas of Harlan County. During the three-day event, you enjoy street dancing, meeting old friends, vendors, inflatables, music, food and so much more.

Hosted by the Grand Reunion Committee, the event will kick-off on Friday at the Freeman Shopping Center parking lot in Cumberland with a gathering and street dance at 6 p.m. You’ll enjoy music by Rockin’ T&J, along with delicious barbecued ribs, chicken and hot dogs by Roy Stephens. Phyllis Branham will be on hand with her famous sweet treats, and the Cumberland fifth- and sixth-grade ball teams will be doing face painting. You may bring your own chair.

“Cumberland Tourism will sponsor inflatables for all the children to enjoy, and Tyler Blair will be making cotton candy and popcorn,” said committee member Shirley Dodd. “The Tri-City Senior Citizens will be selling ice cream for everyone to enjoy, along with much more. Members of the Lynch Methodist Men’s Group will have a booth selling tickets for their annual pancake breakfast, which will be held Saturday from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Lynch Methodist Church. The cost is $7 per person and children eat free.”

Dodd said tickets will be sold for a chance to win a hand-pieced, hand-stitched quilt to be given away Saturday night. She said “it’s a beautiful quilt for anyone to win.” Any other vendors wishing to participate need to contact Cumberland Tourism Director Tracy Bailey at 589-5812.

On June 9, there will be Benham Coal Museum tours from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Portal 31 underground tours, which require reservations. For more information, you may call 848-1530.

For the kids and adults alike, Puppets With a Purpose, a children’s ministry, will be performing on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Coal Bin Thrift Store in Benham. The thrift store will also open both Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. with a new stock of clothing and household items.

For the car enthusiasts, the Tri-City Car Show will be held in the Benham Circle Park on Saturday, sponsored by Benham Chief of Police Drew Woods, Tri-City Cable and Rainbo Johnson. The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with judging at 2 p.m. Air-Evac will be on hand at the park with their helicopter beginning at 10 a.m.

“At noon on Saturday, we’ll be having the annual John “Tater” Dodd Pig Roast at the Benham Coal Miner Shelter,” said Dodd. “You don’t want to miss this one. It’s always a big event every year.”

To end Saturday’s events, there will be a dance at the Benham School House Inn with music provided by Rockin’ T&J. This year’s theme is Mardi Gras. The dance will begin at 7 p.m. and the cost is $10 per person, which includes your food and Mardi Gras accessories.

“Come dance and reminisce,” said Dodd. “We always have a great time at this dance each year.”

On the last day of the reunion event, there will be free coffee and donuts at the Benham Methodist Church beginning at 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Church service will begin at 10 a.m. with Pastor Jody Vansickle.

“This year we have a lot of activities planned and hope that everyone will plan to attend,” said Dodd. “We appreciate Cumberland Tourism helping us this year with the inflatables. We’re looking forward to seeing many old friends and making many new friends during this event.”

For more information, you may call 273-3732 or 848-9019.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com